Long-Term Glucosamine Sulfate Use Appears to Modify Osteoarthritis
WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jan 25 - Among patients with knee
osteoarthritis, long-term use of glucosamine sulfate appears to prevent
changes in joint structure and significantly improve symptoms, according
to a report in the January 27th issue of The Lancet.
Dr. Jean Yves Reginster from the University of Liege, Belgium, and
colleagues randomized 212 patients with knee osteoarthritis to 1500 mg of
glucosamine sulfate, or placebo, once a day for 3 years. At baseline and
at 1 and 3 years, the researchers obtained anteroposterior radiographs of
each knee and assessed mean joint space and mean joint-space width.
Among the 106 patients who received glucosamine sulfate there was no
significant joint-space loss after 3 years (mean loss -0.31 mm), Dr.
Reginster's group reports. However, among the 106 patients in the placebo
group, the investigators found progressive joint-space narrowing, with
nonsignificant mean joint-space loss of -0.06 mm. The differences in
minimum joint-space narrowing were similar, they note.
When Dr. Reginster's team assessed osteoarthritis symptoms, using the
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index,
they found that among the patients receiving glucosamine sulfate, scores
improved by 20% to 25%, while among patients in the placebo group, scores
worsened slightly.
Noting that glucosamine is widely available as a nutritional supplement in
the US and the UK, Dr. Tim McAlindon from Boston University Medical Center
says in a journal editorial that because patients do not rely on
physicians for nutritional advice, glucosamine is likely to be
self-prescribed, leaving the physician out of the treatment loop.
"This situation must change," he says. "It is time for the profession to
accommodate the possibility that many nutritional products may have
valuable therapeutic effects and to regain the credibility of the public
at large."
WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jan 25 - Among patients with knee
osteoarthritis, long-term use of glucosamine sulfate appears to prevent
changes in joint structure and significantly improve symptoms, according
to a report in the January 27th issue of The Lancet.
Dr. Jean Yves Reginster from the University of Liege, Belgium, and
colleagues randomized 212 patients with knee osteoarthritis to 1500 mg of
glucosamine sulfate, or placebo, once a day for 3 years. At baseline and
at 1 and 3 years, the researchers obtained anteroposterior radiographs of
each knee and assessed mean joint space and mean joint-space width.
Among the 106 patients who received glucosamine sulfate there was no
significant joint-space loss after 3 years (mean loss -0.31 mm), Dr.
Reginster's group reports. However, among the 106 patients in the placebo
group, the investigators found progressive joint-space narrowing, with
nonsignificant mean joint-space loss of -0.06 mm. The differences in
minimum joint-space narrowing were similar, they note.
When Dr. Reginster's team assessed osteoarthritis symptoms, using the
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index,
they found that among the patients receiving glucosamine sulfate, scores
improved by 20% to 25%, while among patients in the placebo group, scores
worsened slightly.
Noting that glucosamine is widely available as a nutritional supplement in
the US and the UK, Dr. Tim McAlindon from Boston University Medical Center
says in a journal editorial that because patients do not rely on
physicians for nutritional advice, glucosamine is likely to be
self-prescribed, leaving the physician out of the treatment loop.
"This situation must change," he says. "It is time for the profession to
accommodate the possibility that many nutritional products may have
valuable therapeutic effects and to regain the credibility of the public
at large."